An Indonesian "Road Dog"
A drive to Pura Besakih, the Mother Temple. Again, it was an active temple filled with locals. We got our UIG (uninvited guide) who informed us that a guidewas required to enter the temple. While our “shit detector” was going off, he did have some interesting information that got us hooked. We learned about the different temples- the Mother Temple is a complex of 23 related temples- for Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu. We also got to play dorky tourist doing “prayers”, offering flowers, getting holy water sprinkled on our heads and rice on our foreheads… for a small donation -“Most tourists give $20”. At the end of our tour, we got conned. The “whatever you want to give” for our tour became a push for 50,000 rupees. In disgust, we gave the guide the money- and a piece of our mind.
After our touting experience, we headed to Candi Dasa and had lunch at an empty luxury hotel for a surf side lunch. Then off to Tenganan, a Bali Aga village. No tourists, but hundreds of local men crowded into a large building for cock fighting.
The yelling and betting was frentic as the owners strutted their fighting cocks around the ring. The cocks were fitted with a long blade on their leg. Fortunately, the crowd was too dense to actually see the fighting….don’t think I could have stomached it.
The yelling and betting was frentic as the owners strutted their fighting cocks around the ring. The cocks were fitted with a long blade on their leg. Fortunately, the crowd was too dense to actually see the fighting….don’t think I could have stomached it.
Back in the village, we got a local guy to show us his village. 
I
IIt was a center of original Balinese walled village- rows of houses stepped up a hill. The central area was dedicated to public meeting areas and most of the town appeared to be dedicated to Ikat weaving (warp and weft is dyed and woven together), basket weaving and raising fighting cocks.
The driving in Bali was stressful…. lots of narrow roads, trucks and motorcycles and crazy drivers.
The end of the day, we stopped at Beggars Bush, a British pub, for a cold beer and views of the river. The “star concept” of traveling is a great way to see Bali. We got a chance to go crazy during the day, but didn’t have to deal with luggage and new towns/hotels every night. It was nice to head back to the “palace” and to our A/C room.
The driving in Bali was stressful…. lots of narrow roads, trucks and motorcycles and crazy drivers.
The end of the day, we stopped at Beggars Bush, a British pub, for a cold beer and views of the river. The “star concept” of traveling is a great way to see Bali. We got a chance to go crazy during the day, but didn’t have to deal with luggage and new towns/hotels every night. It was nice to head back to the “palace” and to our A/C room.
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